Shalimar Ode à la Vanille - Sur la route du Mexique 2013

Shalimar Ode à la Vanille - Sur la route du Mexique by Guerlain
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Ranked 68 in Women's Perfume
8.5 / 10 418 Ratings
A popular limited perfume by Guerlain for women, released in 2013. The scent is oriental-spicy. The longevity is above-average. The production was apparently discontinued.
Pronunciation Limited Edition
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Main accords

Oriental
Spicy
Smoky
Powdery
Sweet

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
Mexican vanillaMexican vanilla
Heart Notes Heart Notes
CaramelCaramel ChocolateChocolate
Base Notes Base Notes
OpoponaxOpoponax Tonka beanTonka bean FrankincenseFrankincense IrisIris

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
8.5418 Ratings
Longevity
8.5312 Ratings
Sillage
7.9327 Ratings
Bottle
9.3345 Ratings
Value for money
7.229 Ratings
Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 20.03.2024.

Reviews

3 in-depth fragrance descriptions
9
Bottle
8
Sillage
9
Longevity
8.5
Scent
Serenissima

608 Reviews
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Serenissima
Serenissima
Top Review 28  
Beethoven's X with the final chorus of "Ode à la Vanilla"?
I don't know why I haven't been able to write a commentary on the classic "Shalimar Eau de Parfum", which I got to know and love at the beginning of the nineties, until today.
Maybe it is the multitude of already existing comments that keep me from doing so and make me think: "Yours really doesn't matter anymore!"
Perhaps it is also the "byways" that dominate my life that keep me distracted and wandering around.
Sometimes, testing a fragrance leads almost immediately to a comment developing in my head, which then impatiently demands: "Let me out; hit the keyboard!"
Who knows?

Meanwhile there are so many "Shalimar" variations that I almost get lost in them - honestly: I have lost the overview!
Thanks to Gelis I got two more fillings and now I fished "Shalimar Ode à la Vanille - Sur la route de Mexique" out.
The "ice saints" make me shiver this year, so vanilla is a good source of heat and if so, then yes, chocolate and caramel - yes, give me the calories!
That I discovered vanilla, whose eroticising effect is well known, as a fragrance for me only at an advanced age (what a waste of this "attractant"), I already wrote in the commentary on my favourite vanilla fragrance "Vanille Absolument" by L'Artisan Parfumeur.
Since then I am no longer averse to her and so I follow her also on the "Shalimar" route to Mexico.

Truly: "Shalimar" is perceptible in its basic beauty; but the vanilla predominates here.
It creates the illusion of sun and warmth; how pleasant!
The passage to Mexico and to the noble cocoa/the even nobler chocolate leads past some islands, on which sugar cane is cultivated. It is harvest time and to everyone's delight some of the already refined sugar is caramelised in large pans - what a fragrance they give off! Yummy!
Together with the creamy, creamy white vanilla and the slightly tart chocolate, the result is a shiny mixture that tempts you to nibble: simply stick your fingers into the mixture and lick them off - hm!
Fortunately, the tonka bean also goes a bit under here; it would perhaps be a little too much of a good thing.
Iris generously waves the powder puff; without flowers it just doesn't work!
Well-scented smoky resins are also cleverly used here as stabilizers:
Frankincense roughens everything a little and scratches the pleasantly floating senses, demands attention.
Venus comes strolling along and leaves behind a tastefully dosed portion of Oppoponax.
This is good for this "Shalimar" sibling; together with frankincense, they both round off this fragrance creation harmoniously.

Whether or not this rich palette of "Shalimar" kinship is absolutely necessary remains to be seen!
Everyone should decide that for themselves.
Today I find "Shalimar Ode à la Vanilla - Sur la route du Mexique" a pleasant companion.
Warm and flattering, similar to a light sweater made of fine cashmere, this fragrance envelops me.

Whether Ludwig van Beethoven has given this fragrance an X. Symphony to this fragrance, had he met him, we don't know! Only his name gave me the idea Perhaps he perceived scents as sounds for a long time; which was certainly not quite so recommendable in Vienna of his time. This "melting pot of nations" certainly did not smell of the finest at that time! But one thing is certain: if Beethoven had these, his X. Symphony, it would have been very well received. Let's hear it! Let's hear it!
16 Comments
10
Bottle
9
Sillage
6
Longevity
8
Scent
ScentedSalon

96 Reviews
ScentedSalon
ScentedSalon
Very helpful Review 2  
Not for Shalimar haters
This Shalimar opens with a distinct citrus note, though it is not listed, and within seconds the beautiful vanilla appears. It reminds me a lot of the white chocolate note in Coromandel. This stage is delicious and totally unlike the original Shalimar. However, the drydown is the same powdery edge the original displays. There is no leather but definitely a powdery/citrus thing going on. I prefer the heart notes. The bottom line is if you don't like the original Shalimar, this version is much smoother and easier to love but...don't blind buy it.
1 Comment
10
Bottle
8
Scent
Mujo

51 Reviews
Mujo
Mujo
Top Review 9  
Caramalized vanilla
If Shalimar would be a leopard, this version is a friendly housecat with a leopard print. Unmistakably Shalimar, but a much easier, softer, sweeter and smoother take on it.

SOALV Mexique opens directly with vanilla mixed in with caramel into a wonderful balmy and soft scent that remains for many hours, but stays relatively close to the skin. Next to the caramel I also detect a light milk chocolate note together with a slight fruity flavour. But most of all Mexique shines in the drydown, which is imo the best in all of Shalimar versions and to my nose perfumed caramel and vanilla.

Somehow Mexique is even softer than the Madagascar. Also the citrus in the opening is more diluted in the Mexique version. The biggest difference, however, is the prominent caramel note. Occasionally (maybe because of weather conditions?) I also get whiffs of smokiness.

If you already have a version of Ode a la Vanille I'm not sure that you need to get this one, because all of the SOALV versions are more alike than different. Only when you get up close you can tell them apart. Anyone around you would not notice any differences in the versions. That said, personally I'm very happy owning a bottle of the Madagascar aswell as this Mexique version. If you missed out on the previous versions and you love Shalimar this is practically a must have.
1 Comment

Statements

1 short view on the fragrance
TOPTOP 3 years ago
Beautiful vanilla with caramel with a great yield, but it does not go too much into the space. It is smooth and has fruity elements in it.
0 Comments

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